"Hey Aubrey, can we talk?" I'm startled when I hear Sam through the door in my dorm room.

I've been avoiding him since he kissed me last week. I feel bad, but I don't know what to say to him. I don't like him in the way he wants me to, and I just feel awkward. Thankfully our summer classes are over tomorrow so I don't have to be his bio lab partner anymore. It's been a struggle trying to get work done when I want to ignore him.

"I can't, I'm busy." I say, and I'm not lying. I'm packing a bag to go home tomorrow after my last class. We have a week off before the fall semester officially begins.

"Come on, I know you're avoiding me. I need to apologize."

"Maybe tomorrow." I continue packing and I hear him sigh before going back to his room.

I'm really excited to get back to Malibu and see everyone. Sophie visited me last weekend, but other than her, I haven't seen any of my friends. It'll be good to relax and hang out with them for a week.

Just as I finish packing, my phone starts to ring and I get excited when it's Sophie.

"Hey Soph!"

"Hey Aubs, I just wanted to make sure you still wanted me to pick you up at noon tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'll be done with my classes by then."

"Perfect! I'm so excited for you to come home!"

"I'm excited to go back!" I tell her honestly.

My first weeks at Stanford have not been anywhere near what I expected them to be. My mind is always on Harry, and I just can't seem to focus as much as I should. I'm sure it will get better when my real classes start in a couple of weeks.

"And lucky you, Ryan's having an end of the summer party at his place tomorrow."

"Really?"

"Yep! Okay I have to go, but I'll see you tomorrow Aubs!"

---

The next night...

"What are you going to wear? You have to look super good. What about this dress?" Sophie says quickly and pulls a tight black dress from my closet.

"Soph, I'm not wearing that to a party! And I'm probably just going to wear jeans and a tank top or something."

"Hell no, you are wearing a dress. You have to look hot for all the guys! You are single and need a rebound."

That is the last thing I need, and I've tried explaining this to her, but she doesn't agree with me. I haven't told her about sam kissing me yet, because I know shes going to eat me alive when I tell her that I pushed him away. I know she only wants to help me and she hates seeing me sulk because of harry, but I'm just not ready.

"No I do not, but fine, I'll wear this dress." I walk into my closet and pull out one of the dresses I have never worn. It's not too short, but definitely not something I would wear to church.

"Fine." She pouts. "Holy shit we have to leave! Come on!" She yells to me from my room as I finish my makeup and hair.

"Okay okay! I'm coming." I walk out and grab my purse before we go.

"Damn, you're hot."

"Shut up, let's go." I shove her and we walk out to her car. I am so ready to see everyone and just let loose. I feel like I'm back in my comfort zone and I can just relax.

When we arrive to Ryan's familiar house, I can't help but feel excited, yet nervous. It's been awhile since I've seen everyone.

"Aubs!" Ryan yells when he sees me and Sophie come through the front door. I can barely see him through the crowd of people standing in between us.

"Ry!" I yell and run up to hug him. His arms wrap tightly around my waist as he picks me up and spins me around in his embrace.

"I've missed you! How's the college life?" He finally sets me down.

"Good, but I'm glad to be back! What's going on around here?"

"Same old shit, do you want a drink?"

"Yes, please."

He grabs my hand and pulls me to the kitchen.

"Here, I don't know what this is, but it's good." He laughs, and I can tell he's had a few of these already.

I take a sip from the plastic cup and welcome the taste of the fruity alcohol as it burns down my throat. I'm ready to relax and let loose tonight, I need it.

"Are you excited for college?" I ask Ryan twice before he hears me over the Drake song that is blaring through the sound system.

"Hell yes! The parties are going to be sick, and I'm ready for the girls." He laughs. Typical guy response.

"Oh come on, don't tell me the parties at Stanford weren't ten times better than this high school shit." He tries to justify himself.

"This party is just fine!" I laugh. I actually prefer this over the parties I went to at Stanford. I like being around people I know, being in my comfort zone.

"Here, take this." Ryan gives me another red cup just as I finish the one in my hand. "I want to see you hammered tonight, Aubs. It's the last week of summer!" He laughs and goes to talk to one of the guys on the other side of the kitchen.

I roll my eyes, but take another sip. I should go find Sophie so I'm not sitting here alone.

I stand up and search through the house to find my friend, and spot her chatting up with some guys.

"Hey Soph." I come up behind her and pinch her side.

"Shit Aubs!" She laughs. "Guys, this is my hot friend Aubrey, Aubrey this is Cam and Devin. I met them at the beach the other week." She smiles and I can tell she's already a little tipsy. I smile politely at the guys and take a drink in the uncomfortable moment.

"Aubrey is newly single." Sophie nudges my side and I almost spill the contents of my cup.

"How?" One of the guys asks, Devin, I think he is. "Sophie's right, you're hot." He winks and I want to barf.

"Um, thanks... So how old are you guys?" I try to take this conversation off of me.

"20. We're going to be juniors at USC." The other one informs me and I nod in acknowledgment as I take another sip. I really need to pace myself, I haven't eaten anything today.

"Sophie says you're at Stanford, do you like it there?"

"Yeah, it's great." I smile.

"Well, I'm gonna go find Ryan, he owes me a dance." Sophie says and I try to hold her back and prevent her from leaving me.

"Hey, I'm gonna go grab a drink, you want one?" Cam yells at Devin.

"I'll take one too." I smile after Devin nods.

"So you're really single?" He asks.

"Yep." I murmur and take a long sip and hold the alcohol in my mouth for a second before swallowing. "What about you, girlfriend?" Why did I just ask him, I don't care.

"Nah," he chuckles. "I don't do the whole dating thing, I'm a hook up kind of guy."

Oh.

"Cool. That's not really my thing."

"That's what I thought too, but you know, it's nice not having to be tied down to someone." He tries to explain.

"Yeah, it's just not me." I reiterate and smile.

"Well maybe I can make an exception, or you can." He winks and I almost puke at the small gesture.

"Um, I think of heard someone calling my name, sorry." I lie and walk away. Yuck.

On my way towards the backyard, I run into Sam with the drinks he was suppose to bring Devin and I.

"Thanks Sam." I smile and take the cup.

"Uh, it's Cam.. Like Cameron."

"Oh sorry." Shit this alcohol is really giving me a run for my money. I laugh and skip away from him to the back patio where I can get some fresh air.

"So Devin's pretty cute, huh?" I hear Sophie from behind me and I flip her off.

"He's a fucking pervert." I slur. The trees in the backyard are starting to move, but I don't think it's because it's windy.

"You're just saying that because you're too much of a lame ass to hook up with someone. Come on, Aubs, it's been like two months, move on already."

Ouch. I know she's telling me the truth, but it still stings. Her harsh words force me to chug the rest of the liquid in my cup.

"You're right." I sigh. "But Devin's still a pervert, and I need to use the ladies room. My bladder is about to explode." I laugh and walk back inside, leaving Sophie alone.

I stumble through the house and go all the way upstairs to find a bathroom because all of the ones downstairs are in use.

I finally find the restroom and smile when the scent of lavender reaches my nose. I quickly go to the bathroom and wash my hands before looking at my reflection in the mirror. My hair is a little tousled and my cheeks are a bit red from the alcohol, but other than that, I've managed to stay pretty presentable.

I turn towards the door when someone knocks. The bathrooms downstairs must still be occupied if someone came up here to go. No one else is up here but me.

"Just a minute." I feel like someone's holding my tongue when I talk. I think I should be done with the drinks.

"Aubrey?"

Fuck. Is this the alcohol making me hear things. I shake my head before answering.

"Uh, yeah?" My voice is quivering.

The knob turns before the door is swung open and I see Harry standing there. So it wasn't the alcohol? Or am I just seeing this.

Before I can stop myself, I'm reaching out to touch him to see if he's really there. I'm shaking when my hand hits his shoulder. He looks confused, and I'm sure I look twice as bewildered as he does.

"Harry?" My voice is shaking. I think I'm going to puke.

"Woah, woah, woah," he grabs me and pushes me towards the toilet. I feel him gather my hair and hold it as I heave.

"It's okay." He rubs my back, and I just want to stay here even though I think I've finished throwing up. "Here." Harry hands me his water bottle, and I take it, sipping slowly and closing my she's as the cool liquid soothes my throat.

"Are you alright?" That voice. I feel like my heart is melting just over his deep, comforting voice and beautiful green eyes look at me concerned. I've missed him so much, but I still don't understand why he's here.

I nod and take another sip of the water, trying to get rid of the nasty taste in my mouth.

"What are you doing here?" I finally ask.

"I came back to get the rest of my things before school actually started. When I left, I didn't take everything."

"Oh." Is all I can manage to say. "You can go now, I'm feeling better." I stand up and trip over the rug, but catch myself.

"Aubrey..." He begins and I wait for him to finish.

"It was nice to see you." I try my best to smile as I walk towards Ryan's room and not the stairs that lead back to the party.

"Can we talk?" He asks and I stop. What does he want to talk about with me?

I finally keep walking into Ryan's room and sit on the bed. I catch my breath before I hear him shut the door after he enters a few seconds later.

"How's Stanford?" He asks shyly, like we're complete strangers.

"Harry, I don't want to do this." I snap, and I know if I didn't have all this alcohol in my system, I wouldn't have the courage to.

"Do what? Talk to me?"

"No! I hate you!" I yell. What? I don't hate him.

"What the hell?"

"You kissed another girl! How could you?" My inebriated self conscious is now doing the talking for me.

"Hold on, you're mad at me because I kissed a girl, even though you told me to move on?"

"Yes!" I start crying and bury my face in my hands.

"Girls are so fucking confusing." I hear him murmur under his breath before he sits down next to me. "You told me to move on, so I tried. I didn't want you to move on while I would just be sitting there like a pathetic loser."

I continue to cry when I can't find any words to say.

"Who told you? Liam?"

I nod and wipe my eyes.

"Well he didn't tell you that she kissed me then, I'm guessing. Aubrey, it meant nothing."

"It doesn't even matter, we're not dating." I say.

"You're right." He agrees. "And you've probably hooked up with other guys, so why would it matter."

"I haven't." I say and I feel like I need to throw up again. "I need to go find Sophie, I have to go." I stand up.

"Sophie's drunk, she's not driving you home."

"Than I'll walk, goodbye Harry."

"I'll drive you, come on, it's late." He stands up, this isn't a good idea, but I don't want to walk home in these heels.

"Can we go now?" I ask.

"Sure, I just need to get my jacket." He says calmly and follows me downstairs.

I'm surprised when he drapes his jacket over my shoulders as we walk out to his car, and then he opens the door for me. I guess he's still a gentlemen.

The ride back to my house is silent, but not awkward. I feel comforted by the fact that he still knows how to get to my house, even though it's only been two months since the break up.

"We should talk." I finally speak up when he pulls into my driveway.

"I think so too, but maybe I should come back tomorrow." I know he's referring to my current state of inebriation.

"Sure." I open the door and step out.

"I'll walk you in." He gives me a half smile and follows me up to the house.

"Thanks for bringing me home."

"Of course, I'll come back tomorrow."

I nod and unlock the door.

"Um, goodnight, Aubrey."

"Night." I say quietly and shut the door behind me.

Notes

Oooh what do you guys think is gonna happen!? comment!

& please vote if you haven't already! Ily guys xx